Hello everyone-

My shifter (auto)is really starting to bob around over rough surfaces. I've had it looked at while in the shop for other causes, and it looks like my tranny has two very tiny leaks. One is in the middle (over the tranny support), and the other is the tailshaft. Now that the center support bushing is worn, it's allowing more play in the tailshaft, so it's starting to leak a little more.

Here's my question. The bushing is bad because of normal wear and tear that's been supplemented by fluid leaking on it, weakening it. To fix this leak in the center of the trans. would require rebuilding the transmission according to the mechanic. I don't want to have the transmission rebuilt because everything works fine.

1. Can I wrap the bushing in something to protect it from the fluid?

2. How easy a job is this to do? Can I just unbolt the center support and replace the bushings? How does is work?

Thanks!!!!!

Ryan:

I want to echo what Don said. There are two separate repairs here. The tail shaft bushing it not a difficult repair, can be done on a lift by dropping the tranny support a little. Does not require taking the tranny off, opening the tranny, or rebuilding the tranny. It is a common wear item, and any decent volvo mechanic knows how to do it. There is, if I am not mistaken, a volvo tool to make the installation of these easier. There is a discussion of this on the 700/900 FAQ page, and I think it is pretty similar between the 700 and 200 series cars. Check out this link for more information: http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/Transmission-Auto1.shtml#Trans_Output_Shaft_Bushing

The center support bearing is also a pretty easy repair. Sometime in the past I wrote directions on doing this which were "red starred" so they should be in the archives. Do a search and look. The parts cost is fairly minimal for both the bearing and the "donut" support, so replace them both as Don suggests. You need to separate the drive shaft to do so, and as Don says when you take it off mark an alignment mark so you can put it back together the same way it came apart (to maintain the "balance" of the driveshaft).

So, if you don't do it yourself find a mechanic with more volvo experience to do it. Neither of the repairs are that difficult and should't be too costly.

Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for the great advice!

I'm not in a position to fix these items immediately, but am thinking of doing this in the fall. I'm just not in a situation to do this kind of work, even on jackstands. I live in a big city, and it's too dangerous to try it anywhere around here.

I think I'm being misunderstood about one of the leaks. The tailshaft bushing is leaking a bit, but the other leak is not from the center support bearing, but there is a leak directly above the trans support. It's not leaking from the bellhousing, but between there and the tailshaft. I was told it is an internal leak, and has to be fixed on the inside. Anyway, I think this is what is leaking down and weakening whatever foam or rubber bushings that are on the transmission support bracket. Am I right, or is a bobbing shifter signs of some other bushings that are worn?

Thanks again!!

Hi Ryan:

Sorry for the delay in responding to your question. So, you do have a tailshaft bushing problem, right? That is not that unusual, and is an external fix. Check this out: http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/Transmission-Auto1.shtml#Trans_Output_Shaft_Bushing

Do you also have some other type of leak from the transmission? I'm not sure from your description where it might be coming from. There is, I think, a seal at the spot that the shift mechanism enters the tranny. Check this out: http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/Transmission-Auto1.shtml#Seal Leakage in AW70L Transmission

The bobbing shifter I don't know much about. I do know for the manual transmissions there are bushings on the linkage from the shifter to the tranny, so that may also be the case for the automatic. Check the 700 FAQs for this problem: http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/Transmission-Auto1.shtml#Automatic_Shifter_Is_Loose

Also, I bet the mechanic was telling you that the fluid leak is weakening your transmission mount, and a loose transmission mount may also lead to a bobbing shifter. That is probably the deal. The transmission mount isn't all that difficult to replace, and it is pretty cheap (under $20, I think).

These are a few ideas. My 240 is manual, so I don't know as much about the automatic. I do think you need to make sure you have a mechanic who understands volvo and you can trust.

Good luck. Keep us updated.

Mike

Ryan --

"...because of normal wear and tear that's been supplemented by fluid leaking on it..."

Do you mean the tailshaft bushing in the tranny, or do you mean the driveshaft center support bearing -- more specifically, the foam support for this bearing?

"To fix this leak in the center of the trans. would require rebuilding the transmission according to the mechanic..."

First, get some definition from this "mechanic" about the nature of the leak. You should NOT be compelled to rebuild a tranny to fix a leak. Second, look for another mechanic who knows what he's talking about or is willing to tell the truth.

"Can I wrap the bushing in something to protect it from the fluid?"

If you mean the foam bearing support -- not easily. But also, it's easy to install a replacement (and you can probably find one easily at a boneyard).

"How easy a job is this to do?"

Easy. Drop the center support mount bracket, drop one end of the driveshaft. Pull the d-shaft apart at the splines. Remove the foam, install the replacement. Be sure to install the little springy thingy. Bolt up the bearing support bracket.

You might alspo need to replace the center support bearing while you have it apart.

When refitting the splines, be SURE you realign them as original. It's best to first draw an alignment mark along the d-shaft with a crayon.

Don, when do you know that your center SHAFT support is going south? I get under the car and give it a push and shove and tell myself, "OK, is that movement good or bad?" The bearing, I would hear, but the floating springs or cushions is another issue.

The car is just under 200K

Tony --

I don't know how to answer that -- I've never replaced a foam bearing surround on any of my cars, and several have (or had) over 300k miles (one went 435k). I suppose an oil-soaked, disintegrating foam would need to be replaced...... It's supposed to be soft and flexible, and you SHOULD be able to "squish" the d-shaft back 'n forth....

When the center support bearing starts to fail, it usually moans quietly when cold, first thing in the morning -- then quiets down at highway speed.

Don, Boy, that sounds similar to symtoms of driveline noise I've been experiencing for about 5 years. I get this whine in the driveline in 1st,2nd, and 3rd gear (auto tranny) but when the thing hits OD the noise is gone. Sometimes when I drive to the mountains to go skiing it really whines when I first head out for the ride home. It seems like uphill climbing has some type of effect on the noise level. Now when its really cold out this noise plays a tune of its own "kind of a humm/whine sound.

Now i've got to admit I never did a complete fluid change...however I did have a rear tranny seal replaced once about 40,000 miles ago (car now has 214,000mi. on it)and went through 5-6 qts of fluid over about a 1 year period so its been kinda flushed. I've always been afraid to do anything to it because it runs really good and I don't want to start fiddlin with it and create problems. Is there a tranny filter on these...I've never changed one (had the car since 48,500mi...9 years) If you could give me your thoughts on this whole subject it may shed some light as to weather I should do something about this noise or just live and let live.

Thanks Don...and all you other Bricksters!!!

Jack W.